HDV to DVCPRO--best settings/way to convert?

The best way that I know of is to use the Sony MU-25 deck with the HDMI out to a Convergent Design MI Connect conversion box that you can force 720p with and then out HD-SDI to your capture card and capture in DVC Pro HD 720p. This is an all digital real time hardware process. In my mind it is the best way.
Good Luck
Z1&V1user

Use Compressor to transcode to DVC Pro HD. Don't know what your thinking with Media Manager. Export a clip from the timeline (DVC PRO HD) into Compressor. Re-import and walla, see if you like it.

However you did say..
"I have tested it on one project and I don't appreciate any noticeable difference."
So that is why I gave you a hardware solution.
Good Luck
Z1&V1user

I'm not sure if I have been of any help to you.
I think I know what you meant and I'm not sure the software solution is without degradation, that is why I offered up the best way I know to get you where you want to go. I have this hardware solution. If I have solved anything for you, great, if not- oh well.
Good Luck
Z1&V1user

There is the Decklink Intensity card...$295 for an HDMI-only card, $395 for a fuller spec.

You can use the 'Recompress' option in Media Manager to change to a different codec. I actually assume that Media Manager invokes the Compressor code to do this, but I am not sure.

Media Manager actually uses FCP 'code,' if you will. It's the same thing as if you went to File > Export > QuickTime Movie, then selected something other than Current Settings (such as DVCProHD 720 29.97).

Z1User is correct in suggesting Compressor to do the transcode if quality must be as good as possible (within the constraints of Final Cut Studio 2).

Max
The BM Intensity is only supported for the Intel Mac Pro units. I don't know if it is possible to transcode to 720p from 1080i with the Intensity product. I believe Sony HDV products support play back of 720p and the Convergent Design products work with this feature to force 720p. It would be great if you can. I have said many times here that I believe this BM Intensity product could be the best additional upgrade product for HDV, to not only capture to a codec of your choice but to monitor to an HDTV set that has the HDMI connection.
Z1&V1user

You shot in HDV, going to DVCPRO HD will help in compositing and graphics creation (probably in your rendering and exporting speeds) but it will not do anything to add to your quality (only your file size). Your footage was shot in a 4:2:0 color space at a 25 mb/s data rate. DVCPRO will not add color space or more information to your originally shot footage. You should not notice any degradation of your footage by transcoding.

I would venture to say that most who operate here with HDV likely transcode it to something else easier to work with - DVCPRO HD or possibly Apple ProRes. I would be curious to see the files size of HDV footage transcoded into Apple ProRes - that maybe another option for you.

What are you outputting your footage to - web, DVD, TV, Apple TV? That may help people here provide you with a better solution.


Ryan

HDV is DV data rate = 3.7MB/s, i.e. about 13G/hour. HD DVCPRO is typically about 50% bigger than this - about 22Gb/hour IIRC? So it does have bigger disk requirements, but not much.

Yes transcoding into DVC Pro HD is a really good solution to HDV issues and it works really good. It was been my choice of work flow for some time now. You can always rent a deck but you will need at least a Mac Pro with an Intensity card.
As to improving the original source well I believe that Sony's hardware not only uncompresses and rebuilds the image to 1920x1080i digital signal but it uses properitary error correction in the process that is said to elimanate tape dropouts and leads me to believe the image is better than native work flows.

As to overkill yes your project will be just find in DVC Pro HD.
Good Luck
Z1&V1user

Converting HDV to DVCproHD will a) loose you quality, and b) loose you resolution (1440 pixels to 1280 pixels).

Yes, DVCproHD is a bit quicker to decode, and quicker to render back to. Why not set your timeline to ProRes and render back to that - after all, that's what it was designed for and DVCproHD was not.

Graeme

Graeme, I thought about suggesting ProRes422 but - at an HDV frame size (1920x1080) - is that feasible with Firewire drives?